Course Catalogue

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This course builds on the foundational course in Semantics of English, and introduces more advanced issues in Semantics. It covers a range of topics within Cognitive and Applied Semantics, such as Colour Semantics, Forensic Semantics, Lexicography and Metaphor.

1x1hr lecture; 1x1hr seminar per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in English Language & Linguistics and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into English Language & Linguistics, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

It is recommended that students will have taken ENGLANG4052 Semantics of English.

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The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Examination (90 minutes) - 50% 

■ Coursework essay (2000 words) - 40% 

■ Set exercise - 10% 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the exam, but extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ There are no alternatives to the essay, but a flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ There are no alternatives to the set exercise, but a flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

This course aims to:

■ examine in detail major issues of semantics within modern linguistics;

■ further develop skills in the linguistic analysis of meaning from a theoretical perspective;

■ allow students the opportunity to carry out an in-depth analysis of selected areas of meaning, such as colour semantics, forensic semantics, dictionaries, or metaphor.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ discuss meaning critically in a range of research-led contexts, drawing on different theoretical and applied approaches;

■ evaluate a range of advanced theoretical perspectives on issues in contemporary semantics;

■ argue for the importance of semantics in codifying our world and describing our interaction with it.